My "Magic" Yarn Ball arrived

Was shocked when we got home from work and the mail person was just finishing putting all the mail in the box..I was estatic as I reached in our box and found a key for the bigger box's..I knew my Magic Yarn Ball must be here :)
Oh to my surprise when opening my box from Leslie J..

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!
For everything!!!

The pic on the left is everything I took out of the box.. still wrapped....
Then I started unwrapping very carefully as there were some noises...lol
Oh how spoiled my partner spoiled me and how excited I was. I was like a kid at Christmas..

There are Bamboo circular needles plus a package of straight needles...can't wait to try them as leslie sent me a pattern too. I will try knitting again :) Hope I can figure all that out...lol
Then I got the Yarn Harlot book (can't wait to read), couple of magnets (1 being from Leslies recent trip to CA :) )Theres a retractable tape measure, and a photo key chain and a pencil.
I love the Swankie Hankies...lol Those are so cute, and now I wonder where you get s

tuff like that? :) I must really live out here in the dark ages...lol This pic on the right shows everything after opening in case I missed something......I can't wait to try the plain raspbery shower gel...Thats my favorite store...lol after craft stores of course :) I was due for a new "M" post it notes, thank you! And I love the little charm on the bottom of the stitch marker...
as I unwrapped the BEAUTIFUL "Purple" Lambs Pride
I had my favorite candies falling out..M & M's and a tin of mints, plus little slices and martini drink ice cubes I believe...at first I thought they were bubbles...lol This was definitely a much needed surprise as it has been a totally off the wall weird day for me and a bit bummed out. Sure had fun with it and loved the spoiling I got. Thank you again Leslie..you definitely went all out spoiling me and I love it!!
Hope we get to do this swap again.

Kids Are On The Road

Well Tim, Krista & kids left this morning to go to there new place of residence. I really am so happy for them but sad as I didn't get to see my little ones before they left. So glad that they were around Friday night & we did get to see Kalee Saturday and oh what a nice surprise & shock she gave us all...to shorten the story, she has always been afraid of Pop-pop (Mike) and would always shy away or cry..lol Well look what she did Saturday...she did it twice cause Krista and I didn't have camera ready, but Krista said "give pop-pop big, long kiss and this is what we caught :) Other then that we spent what time we could helping move things into the moving truck... Friday night the guys put Tims 78 Mustang in the belly of this dump truck..the boys call it "Big Blue"

If it had been during the day I would've video taped it somehow...hard to believe there is a car in the belly of that thing and its BIG. It was amzing to see how they got it in there..lol Scarey too :) The trailor will carry their Bronco and Our old 66 T-bird. Now just waiting to hear when they are there. Well thats it for our big news this weekend...Kalee really gave us a memory!! Hope Krista sends a copy of what she caught, we were on different angles...lol

You all have a great week...

Short added note that they made it safe and sound and no problems :)

2nd part of Contest for Summer Dishcloth

Second, post on your blog and talk about what you are looking forward to the most about Summertime. Do you vacation? Bike? Hike? Swim? Love warm weather? Just a post talking about what you love the most about Summer, and that will count as an entry for the 2nd contest!

Well I've thought about this and thought about this over & over and I have to explain being out here in the desert I actually do and don't look forward to summer...lol The do's to the warmer weather: being able to plant things or do gardening work, or just plain be outside. I'm an outside person & I love to sit outside and read a book or work on a threaded project while the dogs run around (I have to throw a ball occassionally during this process)but I don't mind. Being able to sit out gives me that regenerated feeling. I am hoping to get my front yard work finished before my don'ts set in ...lol
The don't want summer to come yet would be the Blow Dryer heat, gosh it gets HOT out here in the desert and when temps get up in those triple digit, it does me in. I know the humidity is low, but it literally can take your breathe away just to walk out the door during our summer months. I actually burnt my feet the first summer we were here. ( I like to go barefoot) Well even as much as I hate shoes, I do always have something on my feet when I leave the house during the summer. Me and this heat haven't gotten along too well and then that brings me back to liking summer again, as I know it will get cool again :)
Well thats my story and I'm sticking to it!! lol

Big Red Box Made its Journey!

Woo-Hoo!! My angeling tote package (Big Red Box) made it to its destination! And the best part is she loved everything, which I must say I really wondered after seeing all the gorgeous bags she has created. :) Absolutely beautiful!! She is one of many, very talented gals I've come across since blogging. If you haven't been on her blog, please do visit, she's quite the crafty one.

I have been on Christine's blog many times even before becoming her "Angel" and even posted a couple times afterwards under both my names ...lol Really made me think when I posted a comment on which name I was under..lol I snagged one picture from her blog to post here, but she's got a bunch on hers. Her pictures came out alot better than mine did and with the shedding going on here with my 2 dogs now, I didn't want to be sending those little extra's.

Also for those that don't know, Christine just recently graduated and now has her Bachelor of Science Degree... Congratualtions Christine!!

What I made today

Well today I finished putting buttons on my stitch marker holders and then I made a small case to use as a needle holder. The small case is actually listed as a credit card case from Suzetta's blog page here . I just used a piece of plastic canvas to weave the needle through. Am hoping to make a needle case for each color of the stitch marker cases I make. I like to do sets :) I also made just 1 more stitch marker using blue beads with a heart one in the middle, kinda change the pins I had to work alittle better but I still need to get the right head pins for it. I fought with it for so long reason for only making 1 for now...lol After I get the right stuff I'll make more then post a pic of them, they are cute. They sure are fun to make too, but I need more colors. I tried using seed beads for the circular markers, but wow..drove my eyes nuts and didn't have a big enough magnifier...lol so I ditched that idea for now and will stick to the dangley ones.

Well thats about it for now, think I hear the dishes calling my name, so till later you all have a great evening.

Quetionaire for ITE IV

Well signs-up began...Woo-Hoo..this is my 2nd ITE and we had a blast with ITEIII, hope IV goes as well.....so here's my answers


1. Name and blogger handle: Mary B-vegasangelbrat
2. Blog URL (if applicable): http://maryslittlecraftcorner.blogspot.com/
3. Do you want a purse that is felted/not felted/surprise me: Surprise me, love surprises
4. Color/fiber likes and dislikes: Not and orange or green person, but do like Lime green,others listed below....nothing scratchy please, I don't have all the wonderful choices in yarn except for ordering online..so am new to all the different fibers, but I really want to make socks & love felting.
5. Do you tend to be dressy or casual? very very casual..I'm a jeans kind of gal
6. Prefer a pal who lives in the USA or international? USA please
7. Miscellaneous info (anything you want to tell your pal): I'm a crocheter, My favorite color is purple, but I wear lots of blues, blacks and some red, like the bright-n-bold colors/jewel tones, I love pockets and really can stuff a bag, perfer shoulder strap type bag as I'm a grab and go over the shoulder person and I always have a project with me. I want you to have fun and in creating whatever bag you choose for me, I love handmade crafts and know I'll enjoy whatever you send, I am really easy going and easy to please...lol

Quite A Bit Accomplished Today

Busy day today but did get alot accomplished so far. Had to go up to Nellis AF Base as my I.D. card was to expire on Monday, so now I'm good till 2011, Yipee!!
When we were done running around getting things we kept forgetting, I did manage to get my Magic Yarn Ball Swap done up and will be mailing out early tomorrow morning to my partner, Laurie C. I'll take pics but not posting any till she has received it :) Round it is not..lol actually could've used alot more yarn but next time I know.

Then I started playing around with some beads as I'm in a Beaded Stitch Marker Swap, thought I could use the practice as I've never made them before..here's a pic of the ones I made up, sure they'll get better as I make more. I'm stumped though on all the photo's I see of these that they have a solid ring..how do you mark a stitch with a solid ring. I know in crochet when I need to mark a row that I'll be working in afterwards a solid ring wouldn't work, you'd have to cut it off or am I misunderstanding how they work? lol (yeah I know, questions, questions, questions) I've always been a questions person, use to drive my mom nuts...anyways here's a pic of mine and I use the spring clasp on them..whatcha think?? Can't wait to make another bead run supply trip..lol I think the straight head pin things I used are alittle big and stick out too much on the bottom, but this was practice and now I own a set of Beaded Stitch Markers, something I do not have. I love the colors in the beads, both are my favorite.

Well I'm off to go see what I can start crocheting..need a new project till I find out who my partners are in my other swaps. Please leave me a comment and let me know whatcha think of my stitch markers, want to know if I'm doing them right, no sense making more if their not done right and maybe someone can tell my what type of rings they use for the marking part (top part)..Thanks in advance and hope you have a great weekend!!

Spring Into Summer Dishcloth Swap Questionaire

1. When did you learn to knit? Who taught you? I learned to crochet as a kid in grade school, not really sure who it was I actually learned from.

2. What was your very first completed object? Your most recent? Years ago and it was a hairpin lace afghan in shades of purple, my mom taught me hairpin lace. My most recent completed project is a drawstring bag with a flap in teal with alittle fun fur through it here and there. I’ve only gotten into making everything other then afghans in the last 14 years…having a blast!

3. What was the very first thing you sent to the frog pond? (pulled out and started over) Your most recent? A tote I’m working on as I’m angeling.

4. What is currently on the needles for you? A Lapghan for my hubby and has been for some time, otherwise hoping to start the crochet Entrelac Bag

5. What types of needles do you enjoy working with? What have you tried and hated? I really like the crystal lite crochet hooks, don’t really know of any others, other than the usual aluminum ones. Now they have them with lites in them..lol What will they think of next

6. Have you knit dishcloths before? Yes I did knit one, I’ve crocheted many

7. What was your favorite one? No real favorite, I finally got to do a diagonal one and I have to say it is one of those no brainer ones to do.

8. Least favorite? Haven’t found one yet that I didn’t like.

9.Do you use homemade dishcloths or face cloths yourself, or give them as gifts, or both? Yes I do use dishcloths especially and I do give them when I make up a gift set (dishcloth, towel, scrubby, hot pad)

10. What are your favorite and least favorite scents? (For your body, such as soap/lotion/etc) Love the fruit scents especially coconut or peach. I don’t really like vanilla but do use black raspberry/vanilla from body & bath works.

11. What are your favorite colors? Purples, teals, black, like most colors, not a big fan of orange…I’m a jeans person so blues work too.

12. What colors (if any) are your bathroom and kitchen decorated in? kitchen at moment still lavender walls with pastels in accessories (have the spice village set from lenox), Hoping to eventually change kitchen to black/white with red accessories (diner/retro) themed. Main bathroom is purple, mauve and sage green. Son’s is Teal and master bath is up in air..lol been thinking moving main bath colors upstairs and then doing black accessories with teal & purple that way the black cat hair will match…lol

13. What other hobbies and crafts do you enjoy? Lots, I do most crafts or will try any, but I mainly crochet, do some beading and plastic canvas, need to get back to my scrapbooking & X-stitch. I do like to work with wood too & try to paint

14. Chocolate: Dark? White? Milk? Ew? Love chocolates, but no nuts in it. Love M & M’s, 3 Musketeers & love Mounds bars

15.Do you like salty treats? What kinds? Love Salt Water taffies from the Jersey shore (old stomping grounds for me)

16. If you could go anywhere in the world for one day and spend the day any way you wanted, where would you go and what would you do? Ireland, would love to go and spend the day walking in the countryside and different shops.

17. Do you have any allergies? (Yarns, foods, etc. that might impact what your pal can send) none that I know of, just the desert dust.

ITEIV Starting Sign-ups

Woo-Hoo...
sign-ups start on the 25th of April for the International Tote Exchange IV (ITE4) ..... so if your interested and want to join in the fun then blog on over on the 25th and sign up for the invite. Its sure to be a good time making friends and seeing what everyone is planning for their partners.

Magic Yarn Ball Started

Well partners were given out and woo-hoo what fun this is gonna be :) Look out Laurie C, I am still plotting your yarn ball...lol
and Thank you for the links to making Stitch Markers!! Will come in handy as I joined in on the "May Beaded stitch markers/yarn swap". I see these all the time on the net and their so pretty and to make your own looks so easy, plus I like to play around with the beads, been awhile but I guess its like riding a bike, you never forget how. Plus I don't own any, I use whatever scraps of different color yarn I may have around my desk...lol
For anyone else wanting to know how here are the links that Laurie posted for me :)

http://knittgeek.blogspot.com/2005/07/guide-to-stitch-markers.html

http://chrisknits.blog-city.com/beaded_stitch_markers_2.htm

Looks like fun and I can't wait, though I am gonna be finishing up a tote/bag I'm working on.

The Spring Felted Bag Swap should be starting real soon too. Already have a pattern picked and hoping it will fit with whichever partner I get assigned, just need to see which colors her's will be. Hoping to make myself a purse in the mist of all these swaps too, plus remember to take pictures. Geesh I've been bad about that.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend. Make it a good one!!

Spring Felted Bag Questionaire

1.How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn?
Learn as a kid in grade school, learn to do a granny square and even taught my mom how to do it. Use to just do afghans mostly hairpin lace but until the last 10 years I have really gotten into crocheting just about anything, just to see if I can do it or not..lol

2. What are your favorite yarns to knit\crochet felted bags with?
I have only just recently learn to felt and I’m hooked, but I haven’t felted with anything other than the Merino Wool or Patons Classic. Stores out here don’t seem to carry all the varieties that other places do.

3. What are your favorite needles to knit\crochet with?
I have the old aluminum hooks plus a set of the Crystal lites

4. What are the last 3 bags you knitted\crocheted (include URL for Yahoo! or flickr album or your blog if you have them!)? You can also link to patterns if you don't have pictures of your finished objects! Only have pictures of the following for now
Pattern test of B4Bag look alike http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelbrat/423596756/

Made for Kalee along with skinny scarf
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelbrat/423596773/in/set-72157594491158829/

ITEIII
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz0_KaNoc_RqLgoq9XPpAkcCtnPH2nhj-0E_QV68-wraO4onq8LBCqFI1OKyjIT1ustBmeyg_48loUouPduai7hFHWt4D9UD1NzjpgduAar4HiTQok84CYXGhAihxqVuSpPJFPDG1aZo/s1600-h/Finished+tote+ITEIII.JPG

5. Do you carry the bags that you make, give them as gifts, or both?
Usually wind up finding new homes for them or made for exchanges. I have a new pattern coming for one I want to make myself but I have kept a couple I’ve made. I just don't have them posted anywhere yet.

6. What is your favorite felted bag that you have made for yourself?
Right now it’s a B4-Bag look alike that another gal wrote a crochet for and I tested. Gets lots of compliments but I do plan to make more if I can find the purples I like. Plus a new pattern coming..lol I love pockets and a shoulder strap!!

7. What are your favorite colors? Do you like bags in these colors or choose other colors?
Favorite is purples/teals but I do wear a lot of blues, black, red. Love the bright neon Lime, also jewel tones.

8. Chocolate: White, Milk, Dark, or not so much?
Yes Please!!! I’m a Choc-O-holic

9. Coffee, Tea, or Milk?
Coffee, you said coffee :) but I also drink sweet tea and milk has to have
chocolate in it.

10. Do you prefer sweet or salty treats? What kinds? Sweets- chocolates,
tootsie rolls, cookies…Just do not like nuts mixed in it. and I do love Salt Water Taffies!!

11. If you went into Bath and Body Works and could only come out with one item, what would it be and what would it smell like?
Oh that is no fair, just 1? Would have to be shower gels..love bath & body works gels & lotions. Scent…hum toughie there, get a lot of compliments with Black Raspbery/Vanilla..I’m not a vanilla person but hubby loves it.

12. Do you enjoy any other crafts or hobbies? Do you collect anything?
I do lots of different crafts, need to get back into my scrapbooking as I’m behind in that big time…I do collect Angels (love em) and also lighthouse And I have a magnet collection on the frig.

13. Are there any bag patterns you have not yet knit, but hope to someday?
I tried knitting, made my first dishcloth but I’m really slow with it so its Not high on my list, but I do have a crochet bag pattern coming that I can’t Wait to do.

14. What is currently OTN (on the needles) for you? On my hooks is a Halter Top for my DIL out of a new book I just got. Plus I also have a lapghan in the making for our recliner.

15. What is your most recent finished object before that? A Tote for ITEIII
Plus another bag pattern I was playing with.

16. What's cutest: Puppies, Piggies or Pixies? Puppies of course, but Pixies might be fun too..they are magical aren’t they ?

17. Do you enjoy reading? Books, Magazines, or both? Both and I do get several crochet magazines. I like the Chicken Soup type books and am only missing a few.

18. Do you have any children? (kid-kind or pet-kind apply!)
3 grown boys-( 31 thru 28)
my 4 girls are Storm-Canadian Snow Wolf, Lady II- Siberian Husky and demoniod at times, Electra & Dyna are our Cats.
I have 2 grandkids Tj- 8 and Kalee just turned 2.

19. What are some of your favorite yarns for other projects? I play with any yarn,
But am alittle hooked on felting & making bags.

20. And for the final question, one I see debated all over: Novelty Yarn: Love
it! Hate it! or It depends! I don’t mind the novelty yarns and do have quite
a bit, I think it depends on the project its being used for.

Extra's from swap blog, added on for allergies

Is your home smoke free? Yes, we do not smoke in the house.
Is your home pet free? definitely NOT, have 2 dogs and 2 cats.
Are you allergic to pet hair, smoke, or both? No allergies here except maybe dust...lol

"Wish List"

"Wish" list...

My favorite colors Purples, teals, I do wear alot of blues, White, Blacks & Red...also like bright and bold

My hobbies... My Crafts- crochet, plastic canvas, beading, macrame, sewing, etc.. like to garden and be outside, like to read Chicken Soup type books (but have most), have heard of a Chocolate Series, but haven't seen it out this way, like spending time with my 2 dogs and I like to do home redo's & such. Knitting will be there soon.. :)

My kitchen theme and colors.. Well I keep changing my mind on this, I still collect my Coca-Cola stuff but I think its gonna stay the purple it is for awhile. I want to get this kitchen done so bad as its driving me crazy..lol I do already have the new flooring for the purple theme that it is, so my Coke/diner theme will be on the back burner, but I do still collect, never know, it may wind up being put in the den area (where computers are)

My bathroom theme and colors... 1- is purples/mauve/sage green 2- (my sons) teal
3. hoping for black with teal and another color don't know yet..lol

My dislikes.... rude people otherwise I'm pretty content

My crafts..what I like.... Definite crochet, plastic canvas, lots beading, macrame, scrapbooking, sewing...I am trying to learn to knit in between all this..

My allergies... None that I know of (maybe dust)

My favorite pets... I have 2 dogs- Storm- Canandian Snow Wolf and then Lady II- Siberian Husky, I do have 2 cats- Electra & Dyna...these are all my girls :)

My favorite scents... hummmm..smell of baked goods, lilacs/lavendar, fresh smell after the rain, citrus's and I love coconut & pineapple scents

Other stuff about me... Am married 32 yrs, 3 grown boys with 2 now still home, I quit my job so am home now again, am a Chocoholic, like to pen-pal, emails, Easy going and alittle crazy at times..lol (but then who isn't) anything else you need to know, just ask, I'm easy and I love homemade stuff and like to make stuff for others.